Official NHL 2015-2016 Thread

[mikeyd23]

What do I know though, nothing really. I'm under the illusion that Lemieux was better than Gretzky 

  Well I'm under the same illusion as well!!

Like I said before:

Lemieux is the best player I've seen in a team sport. Period.

[LieLowTheWantedMan]

Agreed. Letang would be my other choice. He's been unbelievable, and he's probably the least replaceable player on the team.

As someone who watches him play every other night, I can't believe he isn't talked about more around the league as a premier D-man. I don't think he even made the Canadian team for the upcoming fake Olympics. IMO Tanger is a top 5 dman in the league, no question.

Eh. Letang can be fucking amazing, but I notice he has a bigger tendency for bad stretches than most guys out there. At his peak, he's definitely a top 5 defenseman, and he was at his peak these playoffs, if not even turning it on above that. He also had a really great season in general. But looking overall I don't think there's a chance he's top 5. There's guys who bring it way more consistently than he does.

[TAC]

I don't know. I think Letang has officially arrived to the hockey conscious. It was only a couple of years ago I was saying the same things you just said about Carey Price.

He's like Karlsson. Less points but more balls.

[LieLowTheWantedMan]

I wouldn't have blamed you for saying that about Price back then honestly. I'd go as far as to say Price was actually kinda overrated until like the 2013-14 season. But now he's the best and I'm grateful. My post was probably a bit more negative than I intended though. I think Letang could easily make the jump into top 5 defensemen at any moment. I just wouldn't go that far yet though.

As for Karlsson, I don't think I'll ever agree with your beef with him, but meh. My personal top 5 defensemen would be (in no particular order):

Karlsson
Doughty
Subban
Vlasic
Keith

[KevShmev]

  What do I know though, nothing really. I'm under the illusion that Lemieux was better than Gretzky 

You said it, not me. 

[Jarlaxle]

Sorry Lielow but Subban is nowhere near a top 5 dman in the NHL. He's an amazing player, but I would have him in the top 15, maaaaybe top 10. If I were to pick my top 5 dmen to build my team around it would be these guys in no particular order:

Ekman-Larsson
Doughty
Hedman
Pietrangelo
Josi/Letang I can't decide.

[SystematicThought]

Sounds like the Ducks hired Carlyle back for head coach 

[LieLowTheWantedMan]

RIP Ducks. Seriously, why? I mean sure he's won a cup with them before but when you have both Niedermayer and Pronger on your team there's almost no excuse not to. I will be appalled if they continue to be as big a threat after this.

Sorry Lielow but Subban is nowhere near a top 5 dman in the NHL. He's an amazing player, but I would have him in the top 15, maaaaybe top 10. If I were to pick my top 5 dmen to build my team around it would be these guys in no particular order:

Ekman-Larsson
Doughty
Hedman
Pietrangelo
Josi/Letang I can't decide.

And I feel the same about a couple of these guys. We're very different you and I.

[mikeyd23]

Eh. Letang can be fucking amazing, but I notice he has a bigger tendency for bad stretches than most guys out there. At his peak, he's definitely a top 5 defenseman, and he was at his peak these playoffs, if not even turning it on above that. He also had a really great season in general. But looking overall I don't think there's a chance he's top 5. There's guys who bring it way more consistently than he does.

He weakness has always been his thinking of the game, but over the last couple seasons that has improved greatly. He has been incredibly consistent over the whole season for the Pens.

Karlsson
Doughty
Subban
Vlasic
Keith

Those are good picks, but after watching Sid completely dominate possession in the final being matched up against Vlasic, there's no way he makes a top 5 list. Also, there's no way Subban is a top 5 Dman either. I'd take Tanger in a heartbeat over either one of those guys.

[Shooters1221]

What do I know though, nothing really. I'm under the illusion that Lemieux was better than Gretzky 

  Well I'm under the same illusion as well!!

Like I said before:

Lemieux is the best player I've seen in a team sport. Period.

IMO, it's no illusion, just the truth! He was the best.

[LieLowTheWantedMan]

Karlsson
Doughty
Subban
Vlasic
Keith

Those are good picks, but after watching Sid completely dominate possession in the final being matched up against Vlasic, there's no way he makes a top 5 list.

That's a very small sample size to use for something as far-reaching as a tops list.

As for Lemieux, I don't think calling him the all-time great is too outrageous. I would place him 3rd personally (Gretzky and Orr above) but you could definitely make a case for him having an even greater career than Gretzky were he unhindered by injury/disease. I'm not sure I'd agree but it's not crazy to think.

[mikeyd23]

Karlsson
Doughty
Subban
Vlasic
Keith

Those are good picks, but after watching Sid completely dominate possession in the final being matched up against Vlasic, there's no way he makes a top 5 list.

That's a very small sample size to use for something as far-reaching as a tops list.

True, but I think it pretty telling when a supposed top 5 defense man can't show up for a final, meanwhile Tanger plays insanely well. It's a small sample size, but arguably the most telling sample.

[TAC]

Thoughts are with Dave Strader. I have always liked him.
https://www.star-telegram.com/sports/nhl/dallas-stars/article83508312.html

[DragonAttack]

Pitt's speed was the difference in this postseason.  This Red Wing tips his hat to the champs.

Whoa you play for the Red Wings??!!

[karist, what an a-hole]

Once again, congrats Pens.  Suxx that it has been seven years since the Wings came oh so close to getting a fifth ring in twelve years, ...and now it has been seven years since 'we' have been to the conference finals.

[mikeyd23]

Forgot to post this the other day... An estimated 400,000 people showed up in Pittsburgh on Wednesday for the Stanley Cup celebration parade... 400,000! That's insane.

[gmillerdrake]

Forgot to post this the other day... An estimated 400,000 people showed up in Pittsburgh on Wednesday for the Stanley Cup celebration parade... 400,000! That's insane.

I'd imagine when and if St Louis ever wins a cup there will be at least that amount that shows up.....I'd guess more though. I hope my grandkids will kidnap me from the old folks home I'm in and take me to it.....

[LieLowTheWantedMan]

Forgot to post this the other day... An estimated 400,000 people showed up in Pittsburgh on Wednesday for the Stanley Cup celebration parade... 400,000! That's insane.

Very impressive considering the population.

[mikeyd23]

Very impressive considering the population.

Yeah the population of the actual city is just a little over 300,000. So lots of travelers.

[LieLowTheWantedMan]

I love Jagr. He's easily one of my favourite players of all time (probably top 5), and I'm constantly impressed by the fact he's still playing so well at this age. That being said, it is an outrage that he won the Masterton. Dupuis should have gotten it. And if not him, Zuccarello.

EDIT: And wow, I thought PK had the Foundation award in the bag. I mean it's not even hockey related but $10 000 000! Jeez.

EDIT 2: Wouldn't have picked Doughty this year personally but I can't be mad that he won. It's a crime that he hadn't gotten one yet.

[LieLowTheWantedMan]

ANYWHO, nobody talking about Vegas yet? It's interesting. I don't mind, I think it's an interesting experiment to become the first league to expand to Vegas. I'm curious about how this will turn out.

[TheCountOfNYC]

I love Jagr. He's easily one of my favourite players of all time (probably top 5), and I'm constantly impressed by the fact he's still playing so well at this age. That being said, it is an outrage that he won the Masterton. Dupuis should have gotten it. And if not him, Zuccarello.

Zucc absolutely should have gotten that award. He almost fucking died and a year later was the leading scorer for the Rangers. That's the very definition of resiliency and perseverance which is what the Masterson is supposed to be for. With all due respect to Dupuis, he was forced to retire and therefore did not persevere and Jagr playing good hockey in his mid 40's isn't that impressive. That award belonged to Zucc and it's ridiculous that he didn't get it.

[gmillerdrake]

ANYWHO, nobody talking about Vegas yet? It's interesting. I don't mind, I think it's an interesting experiment to become the first league to expand to Vegas. I'm curious about how this will turn out.

gonna be a lot more hockey players making the news for all the wrong reasons     Might be a dreaded road trip by management but anticipated the most by the players.

[mikeyd23]

ANYWHO, nobody talking about Vegas yet? It's interesting. I don't mind, I think it's an interesting experiment to become the first league to expand to Vegas. I'm curious about how this will turn out.

gonna be a lot more hockey players making the news for all the wrong reasons     Might be a dreaded road trip by management but anticipated the most by the players.

 

I think the NHL talent pool is already too diluted and I think a league that can't manage it's current size properly shouldn't get any bigger...But, if they think they can make money, they will expand so its inevitable.

Oh, and Sid should have won the Hart, without question. 

[TAC]

I'm sorry, but 7@44 for Keith Yandle? No f'n way!

[cramx3]

I don't like how the league doesn't have even teams now with Vegas.  I mean, this helps bring it closer to equal teams east/west, but I'd rather them add two than one for that purpose, but then again I'd rather them just relocate a team to keep from diluting the talent.

[axeman90210]

I'm definitely considering the Devils playing an away game against the Vegas team as an excuse for a trip

[LieLowTheWantedMan]

I love Jagr. He's easily one of my favourite players of all time (probably top 5), and I'm constantly impressed by the fact he's still playing so well at this age. That being said, it is an outrage that he won the Masterton. Dupuis should have gotten it. And if not him, Zuccarello.

Zucc absolutely should have gotten that award. He almost fucking died and a year later was the leading scorer for the Rangers. That's the very definition of resiliency and perverseness which is what the Masterson is supposed to be for. With all due respect to Dupuis, he was forced to retire and therefore did not percervere and Jagr playing good hockey in his mid 40's isn't that impressive. That award belonged to Zucc and it's ridiculous that he didn't get it.

Yeah I figured it would be a no-brainer that Zucc or Dupuis wins. I love Jagr a ton and think it's phenomenal the way he's playing right now, but it's ridiculous that he wins.

With the way that went I'm surprised Quick didn't win the Vezina despite being very, very easily outside the top 5 goalies this season. Easily the most overrated player in the league. Can't believe he ended top 3. Happy Holtbeast won though. Schneider should have at least been second though.

[mikeyd23]

I don't like how the league doesn't have even teams now with Vegas.  I mean, this helps bring it closer to equal teams east/west, but I'd rather them add two than one for that purpose, but then again I'd rather them just relocate a team to keep from diluting the talent.

Well if Quebec can ever get their act together and get a team... They would be added to the East and then they would just move a team to the West and they would be even up.

[LieLowTheWantedMan]

I'm sorry, but 7@44 for Keith Yandle? No f'n way!

Agreed. Yandle's one of those players that attracts overpays though. Just wait till Lucic's next contract. Will probably be just as outrageous if not more. At the same time though, it's probably more worth it to Florida than any other team. Getting a high production defenseman for Ekblad to mature alongside could prove to work out well for them, even if Yandle is highly questionable in other departments.

Also yeah, the unevenness is my biggest issue with this expansion. Disagree about the talent pool being diluted. I'd argue it's amazing how undiluted the NHL talent pool is right now. Far, far less scrubs poking around than there used to be.

[mikeyd23]

Also yeah, the unevenness is my biggest issue with this expansion. Disagree about the talent pool being diluted. I'd argue it's amazing how undiluted the NHL talent pool is right now. Far, far less scrubs poking around than there used to be.

Yeah, I respectfully disagree. I think the amount of scrubs in the league is the same as it used to be, the scrubs just play differently than scrubs used to play. Either way though, I don't think its a major issue and adding one team isn't going to suddenly change the quality of play around the league, so no biggie IMO.

Also - why is unevenness an issue for you with the expansion? Correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't this expansion bring the league closer to being even (when I say even, I mean the number of teams in each respective conference)?

[LieLowTheWantedMan]

Also yeah, the unevenness is my biggest issue with this expansion. Disagree about the talent pool being diluted. I'd argue it's amazing how undiluted the NHL talent pool is right now. Far, far less scrubs poking around than there used to be.

Yeah, I respectfully disagree. I think the amount of scrubs in the league is the same as it used to be, the scrubs just play differently than scrubs used to play. Either way though, I don't think its a major issue and adding one team isn't going to suddenly change the quality of play around the league, so no biggie IMO.

Well if you have a very dynamic definition of scrub, sure. But my definition is someone who is seriously levels below the competition. If you look back in the day, players like that were ubiquitous. Nowadays, not so much. Who do we have. Zac Rinaldo? Tanner Glass? A few more than that still, but the game is changing to value skill more ahead of face-punching and "moar grit" and with that parity among players is becoming more and more prevalent.

Also - why is unevenness an issue for you with the expansion? Correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't this expansion bring the league closer to being even (when I say even, I mean the number of teams in each respective conference)?

Good point, I had almost forgotten that. I'd rather they bring in two teams at once to just solve that problem outright, but I guess it is a bit better that way.

[mikeyd23]

Well if you have a very dynamic definition of scrub, sure.

Haha yes I do. 

[King Postwhore]

What's the deal with all this talk of Montreal trading Subban?   If it does happen the Bruins thank you.

[LieLowTheWantedMan]

Well his NMC doesn't kick in till July 1st, so lots of teams are gonna be calling Bergevin to try and lock him up in the meantime.

I'm not scared personally. Doubt Bergevin would let him go for anything but a glorious overpayment. So in the small chance that happens, yay overpay?

[King Postwhore]

Check this out.  Hearing this on Boston radio today.

https://oilonwhyte.com/2016/06/23/edmonton-oilers-offered-subban-for-draisaitl-4th-per-laraque/